Reds youngster aims to make mark against Northern Ireland and Coutts also out to impress
Maguire hoping under-21 call-up can spur him on
Published:
Aberdeen attacker Chris Maguire is hoping his Scotland under-21 call-up can be his passport back into the Dons team.
The 19-year-old forward has been restricted to mainly substitute appearances this season but is in the Scotland squad to face Northern Ireland in their international friendly at Hamilton’s New Douglas Park tonight.
With clubmate Darren Mackie an injury doubt for the Dons trip to Rangers this weekend, Maguire is hoping to impress Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood as well as national under-21 coach Billy Stark.
He said: “I worked hard in pre-season and started the first match of the season but the result did not go our way and the manager changed things. I have been disappointed not to have played more but I have been working hard to get back in.
“No one likes sitting on the bench and, hopefully, my chance will come. I have thought about going on loan but I would rather stay at Aberdeen. If I was out of the team for a long time then I might have to go down that road but at present I am concentrating on working to get into the team. I was delighted to get the call-up and it is up to me to do well.”
Stark has picked 10 uncapped youngsters in a new-look squad as he looks to build towards the 2011 European championship qualifying draw in February.
He has also included former Cove Rangers midfielder Paul Coutts, last season’s Highland League player of the year. Coutts has impressed since earning a full-time contract at Peterborough in the summer.
Stark said: “We have chosen 18 players and all of them will get on at some stage. We are looking forward to seeing what they can do and to mould them into a unit.
“Coutts has been starting for Peterborough and doing very well.
“There are always players who can surprise you. Coutts is carrying the flag for the Highland League and it will be good to have a look at him.”
